stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 09, 2008 05:22 PM
HARD NIGHT FOR KAWASAKI IN QATAR
HARD NIGHT FOR KAWASAKI IN QATAR
The 2008 MotoGP World Championship got off to a nail-biting start today at the Losail International Circuit in Qatar. The first race of the year saw new faces and old hands battling it out for podium places, providing some of the most gripping premier class racing for some time.
Kawasaki's John Hopkins started the night on great form, finishing fourth overall in the early-evening warm up, and things were looking positive as the #21 rider got a solid start when the race began at 23:00 hours, local time. He made it up to ninth position in the first few laps but, as the race continued under the extensive floodlights of the 5.38km circuit, he began having problems with front-end grip. Having to fight the bike and hold it up on his leg, the pain of his injured abductor muscle took its toll and he started losing time. Hopper eventually finished the race in 12th place, picking up four championship points.
It was a heroic effort by the 24-year-old Anglo-American, riding at considerably less than peak fitness and, although frustrated not to have finished further up the field, his performance gives an indication of what he will be capable of when he returns to full health and track conditions improve in warmer climes.
Meanwhile, Hopkins's team mate, Anthony West, also had a hard race, starting from the back of the grid after a difficult weekend in which he struggled to find his form on the Ninja ZX-RR. Having crashed during the weekend's earlier practice sessions, his confidence had dropped and he, like his team mate, struggled with the tricky conditions on the track, caused by low night time temperatures in the Qatari desert. The 27-year-old Australian crossed the line in 16th position at this, the start of his first full season in MotoGP.
Whilst it wasn't the night that Kawasaki was hoping for, lessons have been learned and injuries will hopefully soon be fully healed, enabling the squad to be on top form at the next round at Jerez, Spain, on 30th March.
Source: KAWASAKI NEWS http://www.kawasaki-motogp.com/press/index.asp?saction=Article&sSection=press&id=1046
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2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
  
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YZF
Expert Class
Posts: 144
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posted March 09, 2008 11:00 PM
Steve, did you report about Kawasaki results on first round of AMA championship? Or did i miss something?
Or you only report WSB and MotoGP? 
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stevewfl
Moderator
Posts: 27920
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posted March 10, 2008 06:33 AM
quote:
Steve, did you report about Kawasaki results on first round of AMA championship? Or did i miss something?
Or you only report WSB and MotoGP?
Ouch 
Bikeland beat me to the punch, and AMA weekend highlight Kawasaki #1, #2 is already being discussed on this thread, hop in there!
http://www.bikeland.org/board/viewthread.php?FID=2&TID=37646&set_time=1205123898
____________
2010 Concours14
'08 R1 YAMAHA
ZX14 gone!
CBR600RR track bike
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